IllustrationMOTOR MOUNT FAILURE. MY TRANSMISSION/MOTOR MOUNT FAILED CAUSING THE ENGINE TO FALL IN THE ENGINE BAY. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SEVERAL OTHERS AS POSTED ON HTTP://WWW.MAZDA3FORUMS.COM/INDEX.PHP?TOPIC=68975.0. *TR
2007 Mazda MAZDASPEED3
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all MAZDASPEED3 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
220–25K
525–50K
350–75K
275–100K
1100–150K
0150K+
33 reports with mileage · 5 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
38 reportsI HAVE A BRIDGESTONE POTENZA TIRE WITH 5K MILES ON IT AND IT HAS A BULGE IN THE SIDEWALL.
2007 MAZDA ASPEED 3 IS PRONE TO MOTOR MOUNT FAILURE, I AM TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM ADDRESS LOOSE MOTOR MOUNT, WHICH ACCORDING TO RECENT DATA ON THE WEB , IS PRONE TO POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC FAILURE IF THE MOUNT FAILS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *AK
HEARD RATTLE IN REAR OF CAR. THE PASSENGER'S SIDE ANTI ROLL BAR LINKAGE WAS LOOSE. THE NUT THAT SECURED THE LINKAGE WAS SO LOOSE THAT I WAS ABLE TO TURN IT WITH MY FINGER. DEALER FOUND THE NUT TO BE LOOSE AND TORQUED IT TO 40 FEET-LB PER THE MANUAL. *AK
SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR WAS ROUGH SOMETIMES. I CHECKED THE TORQUE ON BOLT OF DRIVER'S SIDE ENGINE MOUNT AND IT WAS LOOSE. IT TURNED UNDER 30 FEET-LB. BOLT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE 70-80 FEET-LB FROM THE FACTORY. AFTER BOLT WAS TIGHTENED TO SPEC SHIFTING BECAME A LOT SMOOTHER. I WAS CONVINCED THAT IF BOLT WAS NOT TIGHTENED FAIL…
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SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR WAS ROUGH SOMETIMES. I CHECKED THE TORQUE ON BOLT OF DRIVER'S SIDE ENGINE MOUNT AND IT WAS LOOSE. IT TURNED UNDER 30 FEET-LB. BOLT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE 70-80 FEET-LB FROM THE FACTORY. AFTER BOLT WAS TIGHTENED TO SPEC SHIFTING BECAME A LOT SMOOTHER. I WAS CONVINCED THAT IF BOLT WAS NOT TIGHTENED FAILURE OF DRIVER' S-SIDE ENGINE MOUNT BOLT WOULD HAVE EVENTUALLY RESULTED IN A COUPLE THOUSAND MORE MILES. VEHICLE ONLY HAD 3000 MILES ON IT -ENGINE WOULD HAVE DROPPED OVER LEFT SIDE DRIVESHAFT, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. REFER TO INVESTIGATION PE07015 . *AK
HAVE A 2007 MAZDA SPEED 3 WITH 4224 MILES 4 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. REPORTED A STRANGE POPPING SOUND TO THE DEALER ON SATURDAY AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT NORMAL , AND TO DROP OFF THE CAR AT THE EARLIEST CONVENIENCE. WHILE DRIVING TO A FRIEND'S HOUSE I TURNED LEFT ON A STREET AND ACCELERATED ONCE INTO 2ND GEAR. I ACCELLERATED…
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HAVE A 2007 MAZDA SPEED 3 WITH 4224 MILES 4 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. REPORTED A STRANGE POPPING SOUND TO THE DEALER ON SATURDAY AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT NORMAL , AND TO DROP OFF THE CAR AT THE EARLIEST CONVENIENCE. WHILE DRIVING TO A FRIEND'S HOUSE I TURNED LEFT ON A STREET AND ACCELERATED ONCE INTO 2ND GEAR. I ACCELLERATED SOME MORE AND HEARD A LOUD BANG, AND THEN SEVERAL SEQUENTIAL POPS AND NOISES. I POPPED THE HOOD TO SEE THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE MOTOR HAD FALLEN DOWN. SO FAR THE DEALER NOTED THAT IT WAS A MOTOR MOUNT/BOLT FAILURE , AND THE ESTIMATE WAS STILL TO COME ON HOW MUCH TO FIX THE CAR. *AK
MY VEHICLE LOST ITS ENGINE OFF THE MOTOR MOUNTS! THE CAR IS A 2007 MAZDA MAZDA SPEED 3 WITH 6260 MILES ON IT. DURING DOWN SHIFTING FOR A TURN I HEEL-TOED, PREPARING FOR THE NEXT GEAR AND A RIGHT TURN, COASTING AT ABOUT 30 MPH. DURING THIS ROUTINE ACTION THERE WAS A HUGE CRASHING, METALLIC SOUND THAT CAME OUT FROM UNDER THE EN…
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MY VEHICLE LOST ITS ENGINE OFF THE MOTOR MOUNTS! THE CAR IS A 2007 MAZDA MAZDA SPEED 3 WITH 6260 MILES ON IT. DURING DOWN SHIFTING FOR A TURN I HEEL-TOED, PREPARING FOR THE NEXT GEAR AND A RIGHT TURN, COASTING AT ABOUT 30 MPH. DURING THIS ROUTINE ACTION THERE WAS A HUGE CRASHING, METALLIC SOUND THAT CAME OUT FROM UNDER THE ENGINE AREA. THEN I FELT A MASSIVE PULL ON THE CAR, AND A HEAVY GRINDING, POPPING, AND CLANKING SOUND. I COULD BEST DESCRIBE IT AS IF A GORILLA HAD JUMPED INSIDE OF THE HOOD, AND STARTED ATTACKING THE CAR, FROM WITHIN. I MANAGED TO COAST THE CAR TO A STOP, AVOIDING PERSONAL INJURY, BUT IT WAS CLOSE. IF I HAD BEEN GOING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, I HAVE NO DOUBT I WOULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY IN PERIL. I COUNT MYSELF LUCKY. AT ANY RATE, I QUICKLY PULLED THE CAR TO THE CURB, AND OPENED THE HOOD. THE ENGINE WAS SITTING ON THE CONCRETE, HALFWAY IN MY ENGINE BAY. THE HALFSHAFTS WERE OUT OF THE HUBS, THE EXHAUST BENT, WIRING BROKEN, RADIATOR HOSES PULLED, ETC. NOT GOOD. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT MAZDA, AND I AWAIT THEIR RESPONSE. *AK
I DID MAJOR RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUE ON THE INTERNET. MOST OF THE INFO I USED WAS FOUND HERE: HTTP://WWW.MAZDA3FORUMS.COM/INDEX.PHP?TOPIC=68975.0;ALL. I STARTED READING HERE JUST FOR FUN AND DISCOVERED THAT I MAY HAVE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE ON MY HANDS. THE TRANSMISSION MOUNT BOLT ON MY 2007 MAZDASPEED 3 LOOSENED AT 18-20 FT-…
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I DID MAJOR RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUE ON THE INTERNET. MOST OF THE INFO I USED WAS FOUND HERE: HTTP://WWW.MAZDA3FORUMS.COM/INDEX.PHP?TOPIC=68975.0;ALL. I STARTED READING HERE JUST FOR FUN AND DISCOVERED THAT I MAY HAVE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE ON MY HANDS. THE TRANSMISSION MOUNT BOLT ON MY 2007 MAZDASPEED 3 LOOSENED AT 18-20 FT-LBS OF TORQUE!! THERE WERE SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO HAD THIS SAME ISSUE. NO LESS THAN 5 PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS BOLT FAIL AND THEIR ENGINE HAS FALLEN ONTO THE FRAME OF THE CAR!! THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. MANY OTHERS HAVE FOUND THAT THIS BOLT IS NOT TIGHTENED TO FACTORY SPECS. I RAISED THE TRANSMISSION ABOUT 1 INCH (TO RELIEVE PRESSURE) BEFORE CHECKING THE TORQUE ON THE BOLT. I APPLIED BLUE LOCKTIGHT AND RE-TORQUED TO 75 FT-LBS. THERE WERE NO METAL SHAVINGS ON THE BOLT AND IT LOOKED FINE. THE THREADS INSIDE THE MOUNT ALSO APPEARED FINE. I ALSO HAD A STRANGE NOISE FROM THE LEFT FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CAR THAT STARTED WITH LESS THAN 300 MILES ON THE CAR!! YOU COULD FEEL A VIBRATION AND IT WAS VERY LOUD AND AUDIBLE. IT SOUNDED LIKE A LOW PITCHED GROAN OR SOMETHING RUBBING. IT WAS INTERMITTENT AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. ODDLY, APPLYING THE BRAKES STOPPED THE SOUND AND VIBRATION, EVEN IF YOU JUST BARLEY TOUCHED THEM. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY COULD REPRODUCE THE ISSUE, BUT COULD NOT FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THE PROBLEM LESSENED THE MORE I DROVE THE CAR. EVEN SO, I ALWAYS FELT LIKE SOMETHING DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT. AFTER LOCKING DOWN THE BOLT TO CORRECT SPECS, I HAVE NOTICED THAT EVERYTHING FEELS MUCH MORE SOLID NOW. THE NOISES HAVE GONE AWAY AND THE SHIFTER LINKAGE IS FIRM AGAIN, NOT "SPONGY" LIKE BEFORE. SINCE MANY PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE, I FEEL THAT MAZDA NEEDS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS VERY SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN BY ISSUING A RE-CALL. THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE AND A BIG SAFETY PROBLEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. *JB
I WAS ROLLING IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC AND WENT TO SECOND GEAR DOING MAYBE 15 MPH AND HEARD A CLUCK. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS REFLECTORS ON THE ROAD AS THAT WAS WHAT IT SEEMED LIKE. I MADE A TURN , AND AS THE THUNK PERSISTED, I IMMEDIATLY STOPPED AND POPPED THE HOOD AND OBSERVED THE MOTOR FELL FORWARD IN THE THE RADIATIO…
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I WAS ROLLING IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC AND WENT TO SECOND GEAR DOING MAYBE 15 MPH AND HEARD A CLUCK. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS REFLECTORS ON THE ROAD AS THAT WAS WHAT IT SEEMED LIKE. I MADE A TURN , AND AS THE THUNK PERSISTED, I IMMEDIATLY STOPPED AND POPPED THE HOOD AND OBSERVED THE MOTOR FELL FORWARD IN THE THE RADIATIOR. IT WAS DUE TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE TRANSMISSION MOUNT THAT CAME LOOSE.*AK
I WAS SHIFTING INTO SECOND ON MY 07 MAZDASPEED 3 AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE ENGINE MOUNT OR BOLT BROKE AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO DROP.
Official recalls
207V295000 · Engine And Engine Cooling
Jul 10, 2007
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE NO. 4 LEFT SIDE ENGINE MOUNT BOLT MAY LOOSEN IF A SUDDEN RAPID ACCELERATION IS REPEATEDLY PERFORMED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE VEHICLE IS CONTINUOUSLY DRIVEN UNDER SUCH CONDITION, THE NO. 4 ENGINE MOUNT BOLT MAY LOOSEN AND PULL OUT OR BREAK, ALLOWING THE TRANSMISSION TO BE OUT OF POSITION. IN EXTREME CASES, THE DRIVE SHAFT MAY BECOME DETACHED. IF THIS OCCURS THE VEHICLE WILL LOSE POWER AND WILL COME TO A STOP, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE NO. 4 ENGINE MOUNT BOLT WITH A MODIFIED ONE, AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE NO. 4 ENGINE MOUNT RUBBER AND BRACKET WITH NEW ONES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALLBEGAN ON JULY 13, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MAZDA AT 800-222-5500 .
07V052000 · Equipment
Feb 15, 2007
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL ACCESSORY ALL WEATHER FLOOR MATS, THERE IS INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE FLOOR MAT AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THIS SITUATION IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MIGHT GET STUCK BEHIND THE FLOOR MAT, WHICH MAY PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM PROPERLY DECELERATING WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS RELEASED INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THE FLOOR MATS TO DEALERS AND WILL BE SHIPPED A NEW FLOOR MAT FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 7, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1PE07015 · Failure Of Engine/transmission Mount
Opened Mar 13, 2007 · Closed Jul 13, 2007
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline; Power Train:manual Transmission
ON JULY 2, 2007 MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT TO NHTSA REGARDING THE LEFT HAND SIDE (LHS) ENGINE MOUNT BOLTS IN APPROXIMATELY 5,700 MODEL YEAR (MY) 2007 MAZDASPEED3 VEHICLES BUILT FROM JUNE 26, 2006 THROUGH MAY 19, 2007 (MAZDA RECALL 4607F, NHTSA RECALL 07V-295).ACCORDING TO MAZDA, THE LHS ENGINE MOUNT COULD LOOSEN UNDER REPEATED LOADS PRODUCED DURING RAPID ACCELERATIONS.LOOSE BOLTS COULD PULL OUT OR BREAK, ALLOWING THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION TO DROP ON THE LEFT SIDE.WHEN THE ENGINE DROPS, THE DRIVESHAFT MAY BECOME DETACHED AND DISABLE THE VEHICLE.MAZDA WILL REPLACE THE LHS ENGINE MOUNT BOLTS IN THE RECALLED VEHICLES.IN ADDITION, THE LHS ENGINE MOUNT RUBBER AND BRACKET WILL BE INSPECTED AND REPLACED IF NECESSARY.MAZDA STATED IN ITS LETTER THAT IT CONTINUES TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS NO UNREASONABLE RISK OF ACCIDENT OR INJURY ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONDITION, CITING THE LACK OF ACCIDENTS AND CONTENDING THAT MOST OF THE REPORTED INCIDENTS WERE IDENTIFIED BY OPERATORS BEFORE THERE WAS ANY EFFECT ON VEHICLE OPERATION. ODI DISAGREES WITH MAZDA.ALTHOUGH ONLY ABOUT HALF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES HAD ENTERED SERVICE BY THE CUTOFF DATE OF THE FAILURE DATA SUBMITTED BY MAZDA, ODI'S ANALYSIS OF CONSUMER COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY CLAIM DATA IDENTIFIED A TOTAL OF 36 SUBJECT VEHICLES WITH REPAIRS FOR LOOSE OR BROKEN LHS MOUNTING BOLTS.ODI VERIFIED 17 INCIDENTS OF BOLT FRACTURE RESULTING IN THE ENGINE DROPPING IN THESE VEHICLES, INCLUDING AT LEAST 10 THAT RESULTED IN VEHICLE DISABLEMENT.ALL OF THE BOLT FRACTURES OCCURRED IN THE FIRST 7 MONTHS OF VEHICLE SERVICE, WITH 8 FAILING WITHIN 4 MONTHS.THESE FAILURES RESULT IN A RELATIVELY HIGH FAILURE RATE WHEN COMPARED WITH OTHER ODI INVESTIGATIONS INVOLVING DEFECT CONDITIONS WITH SIMILAR SAFETY CONSEQUENCES THAT RESULTED IN SAFETY RECALLS, PARTICULARLY WHEN CONSIDERING THE VERY SHORT SERVICE LIFE OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLE POPULATION. ODI INTERVIEWED OWNERS TO FURTHER ASSESS THE SAFETY CONSEQUENCES OF THE LHS BOLT DEFECT.MORE THAN TWO-THIRDS OF THOSE INTERVIEWED WHO EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE FALL INCIDENT INDICATED THE EVENT DISABLED THE VEHICLE, SOME BEING STRANDED IN THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC.AT LEAST THREE-QUARTERS OF THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED WHEN THE DRIVER WAS ATTEMPTING TO INCREASE SPEED, RESULTING IN A SUDDEN CHANGE IN ACCELERATION.EACH OF THESE DRIVERS EXPRESSED SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THE POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH THE EVENT, INCLUDING THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING STRUCK BY TRAILING OR CROSSING TRAFFIC.IN ONE INCIDENT THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT ACROSS ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANES AFTER THE LHS MOUNT BOLT BROKE, STOPPING IN THE ROADWAY AFTER STRIKING A CURB. BASED ON THIS INFORMATION, ODI STRONGLY DISAGREES WITH MAZDA'S CHARACTERIZATION OF THE SAFETY RISK ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEFECT IN THE LHS ENGINE MOUNT BOLTS.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN CLOSED BASED ON MAZDA'S RECALL.ODI WILL MONITOR THE EFFECTIVENESS OF MAZDA'S CAMPAIGN REMEDY AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline
ON JULY 2, 2007 MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT TO NHTSA REGARDING THE LEFT HAND SIDE (LHS) ENGINE MOUNT BOLTS IN APPROXIMATELY 5,700 MODEL YEAR (MY) 2007 MAZDASPEED3 VEHICLES BUILT FROM JUNE 26, 2006 THROUGH MAY 19, 2007 (MAZDA RECALL 4607F, NHTSA RECALL 07V-295).ACCORDING TO MAZDA, THE LHS ENGINE MOUNT COULD LOOSEN UNDER REPEATED LOADS PRODUCED DURING RAPID ACCELERATIONS.LOOSE BOLTS COULD PULL OUT OR BREAK, ALLOWING THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION TO DROP ON THE LEFT SIDE.WHEN THE ENGINE DROPS, THE DRIVESHAFT MAY BECOME DETACHED AND DISABLE THE VEHICLE.MAZDA WILL REPLACE THE LHS ENGINE MOUNT BOLTS IN THE RECALLED VEHICLES.IN ADDITION, THE LHS ENGINE MOUNT RUBBER AND BRACKET WILL BE INSPECTED AND REPLACED IF NECESSARY.MAZDA STATED IN ITS LETTER THAT IT CONTINUES TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS NO UNREASONABLE RISK OF ACCIDENT OR INJURY ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONDITION, CITING THE LACK OF ACCIDENTS AND CONTENDING THAT MOST OF THE REPORTED INCIDENTS WERE IDENTIFIED BY OPERATORS BEFORE THERE WAS ANY EFFECT ON VEHICLE OPERATION. ODI DISAGREES WITH MAZDA.ALTHOUGH ONLY ABOUT HALF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES HAD ENTERED SERVICE BY THE CUTOFF DATE OF THE FAILURE DATA SUBMITTED BY MAZDA, ODI'S ANALYSIS OF CONSUMER COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY CLAIM DATA IDENTIFIED A TOTAL OF 36 SUBJECT VEHICLES WITH REPAIRS FOR LOOSE OR BROKEN LHS MOUNTING BOLTS.ODI VERIFIED 17 INCIDENTS OF BOLT FRACTURE RESULTING IN THE ENGINE DROPPING IN THESE VEHICLES, INCLUDING AT LEAST 10 THAT RESULTED IN VEHICLE DISABLEMENT.ALL OF THE BOLT FRACTURES OCCURRED IN THE FIRST 7 MONTHS OF VEHICLE SERVICE, WITH 8 FAILING WITHIN 4 MONTHS.THESE FAILURES RESULT IN A RELATIVELY HIGH FAILURE RATE WHEN COMPARED WITH OTHER ODI INVESTIGATIONS INVOLVING DEFECT CONDITIONS WITH SIMILAR SAFETY CONSEQUENCES THAT RESULTED IN SAFETY RECALLS, PARTICULARLY WHEN CONSIDERING THE VERY SHORT SERVICE LIFE OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLE POPULATION. ODI INTERVIEWED OWNERS TO FURTHER ASSESS THE SAFETY CONSEQUENCES OF THE LHS BOLT DEFECT.MORE THAN TWO-THIRDS OF THOSE INTERVIEWED WHO EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE FALL INCIDENT INDICATED THE EVENT DISABLED THE VEHICLE, SOME BEING STRANDED IN THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC.AT LEAST THREE-QUARTERS OF THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED WHEN THE DRIVER WAS ATTEMPTING TO INCREASE SPEED, RESULTING IN A SUDDEN CHANGE IN ACCELERATION.EACH OF THESE DRIVERS EXPRESSED SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THE POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH THE EVENT, INCLUDING THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING STRUCK BY TRAILING OR CROSSING TRAFFIC.IN ONE INCIDENT THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT ACROSS ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANES AFTER THE LHS MOUNT BOLT BROKE, STOPPING IN THE ROADWAY AFTER STRIKING A CURB. BASED ON THIS INFORMATION, ODI STRONGLY DISAGREES WITH MAZDA'S CHARACTERIZATION OF THE SAFETY RISK ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEFECT IN THE LHS ENGINE MOUNT BOLTS.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN CLOSED BASED ON MAZDA'S RECALL.ODI WILL MONITOR THE EFFECTIVENESS OF MAZDA'S CAMPAIGN REMEDY AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED.
Power Train:manual Transmission
ON JULY 2, 2007 MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT TO NHTSA REGARDING THE LEFT HAND SIDE (LHS) ENGINE MOUNT BOLTS IN APPROXIMATELY 5,700 MODEL YEAR (MY) 2007 MAZDASPEED3 VEHICLES BUILT FROM JUNE 26, 2006 THROUGH MAY 19, 2007 (MAZDA RECALL 4607F, NHTSA RECALL 07V-295).ACCORDING TO MAZDA, THE LHS ENGINE MOUNT COULD LOOSEN UNDER REPEATED LOADS PRODUCED DURING RAPID ACCELERATIONS.LOOSE BOLTS COULD PULL OUT OR BREAK, ALLOWING THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION TO DROP ON THE LEFT SIDE.WHEN THE ENGINE DROPS, THE DRIVESHAFT MAY BECOME DETACHED AND DISABLE THE VEHICLE.MAZDA WILL REPLACE THE LHS ENGINE MOUNT BOLTS IN THE RECALLED VEHICLES.IN ADDITION, THE LHS ENGINE MOUNT RUBBER AND BRACKET WILL BE INSPECTED AND REPLACED IF NECESSARY.MAZDA STATED IN ITS LETTER THAT IT CONTINUES TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS NO UNREASONABLE RISK OF ACCIDENT OR INJURY ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONDITION, CITING THE LACK OF ACCIDENTS AND CONTENDING THAT MOST OF THE REPORTED INCIDENTS WERE IDENTIFIED BY OPERATORS BEFORE THERE WAS ANY EFFECT ON VEHICLE OPERATION. ODI DISAGREES WITH MAZDA.ALTHOUGH ONLY ABOUT HALF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES HAD ENTERED SERVICE BY THE CUTOFF DATE OF THE FAILURE DATA SUBMITTED BY MAZDA, ODI'S ANALYSIS OF CONSUMER COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY CLAIM DATA IDENTIFIED A TOTAL OF 36 SUBJECT VEHICLES WITH REPAIRS FOR LOOSE OR BROKEN LHS MOUNTING BOLTS.ODI VERIFIED 17 INCIDENTS OF BOLT FRACTURE RESULTING IN THE ENGINE DROPPING IN THESE VEHICLES, INCLUDING AT LEAST 10 THAT RESULTED IN VEHICLE DISABLEMENT.ALL OF THE BOLT FRACTURES OCCURRED IN THE FIRST 7 MONTHS OF VEHICLE SERVICE, WITH 8 FAILING WITHIN 4 MONTHS.THESE FAILURES RESULT IN A RELATIVELY HIGH FAILURE RATE WHEN COMPARED WITH OTHER ODI INVESTIGATIONS INVOLVING DEFECT CONDITIONS WITH SIMILAR SAFETY CONSEQUENCES THAT RESULTED IN SAFETY RECALLS, PARTICULARLY WHEN CONSIDERING THE VERY SHORT SERVICE LIFE OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLE POPULATION. ODI INTERVIEWED OWNERS TO FURTHER ASSESS THE SAFETY CONSEQUENCES OF THE LHS BOLT DEFECT.MORE THAN TWO-THIRDS OF THOSE INTERVIEWED WHO EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE FALL INCIDENT INDICATED THE EVENT DISABLED THE VEHICLE, SOME BEING STRANDED IN THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC.AT LEAST THREE-QUARTERS OF THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED WHEN THE DRIVER WAS ATTEMPTING TO INCREASE SPEED, RESULTING IN A SUDDEN CHANGE IN ACCELERATION.EACH OF THESE DRIVERS EXPRESSED SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THE POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH THE EVENT, INCLUDING THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING STRUCK BY TRAILING OR CROSSING TRAFFIC.IN ONE INCIDENT THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT ACROSS ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANES AFTER THE LHS MOUNT BOLT BROKE, STOPPING IN THE ROADWAY AFTER STRIKING A CURB. BASED ON THIS INFORMATION, ODI STRONGLY DISAGREES WITH MAZDA'S CHARACTERIZATION OF THE SAFETY RISK ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEFECT IN THE LHS ENGINE MOUNT BOLTS.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN CLOSED BASED ON MAZDA'S RECALL.ODI WILL MONITOR THE EFFECTIVENESS OF MAZDA'S CAMPAIGN REMEDY AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED.